Antenna device and method for determining radiation pattern

ABSTRACT

An antenna device includes antennas to receive and transmit signals; and a processor to divide radiation patterns of combinations of the antennas into a predetermined number of characteristic patterns, and to calculate similarities of the characteristic patterns and a RSSI of each of the characteristic patterns. When the antenna device is in operation, the processor reads and analyzes RSSI of the signals received by the antennas, compares the RSSI of the signals of the antennas with the RSSI of the characteristic patterns, and determines a matched characteristic pattern group according to results of comparisons and the similarities of the characteristic patterns.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/665,261, filed on Oct. 28, 2019 and entitled “ANTENNA DEVICEAND METHOD FOR DETERMINING RADIATION PATTERN”, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to antenna field, andparticularly to an antenna device and a method for determining radiationpattern.

BACKGROUND

Most of the traditional antenna field design is fixed. Environmentchanges can cause deterioration of the radiation pattern, resulting in adecrease in transmission performance, which is inconvenient for theuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by wayof embodiment, with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of an antenna device;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of 6 types of characteristic pattern;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of an antenna device;and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for determining radiationpatterns of a second embodiment of the antenna device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, itwill be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that theembodiments described herein can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components havenot been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevantfeature being described. Also, the description is not to be consideredas limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawingsare not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts havebeen exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of thepresent disclosure.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly orindirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarilylimited to physical connections. The connection can be such that theobjects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term“comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarilylimited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion ormembership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of an antenna device 10. In atleast one embodiment, the antenna device 10 comprises a first antennagroup 101, a second antenna group 102, a first electronic switch 103, asecond electronic switch 104, and a processor 105. The first antennagroup 101 comprises multiple antennas, each antenna can receive signaland transmit signal. The second antenna group 102 comprises multipleantennas, each antenna can receive signal and transmit signal. Theprocessor 105 is coupled to the first antenna group 101 by a firstelectronic switch 103, and coupled to the second antenna group 102 by asecond electronic switch 104.

In at least one embodiment, the first antenna group 101 comprises fourantennas (four shown as a non-limiting example), the second antennagroup 102 comprises four antennas (four shown as a non-limitingexample). Both the first antenna group 101 and the second antenna group102 comprise a first end, a second end, a third end, a fourth end and acontrol end. The first end, the second end, a third end and the fourthend of the first electronic switch 103 are coupled to the four antennasof the first antenna group 101 respectively. The control end of thefirst electronic switch 103 is coupled to the processor 105. The firstend, the second end, a third end and the fourth end of the secondelectronic switch 104 are coupled to the four antennas of the secondantenna group 102 respectively. The control end of the second electronicswitch 104 is coupled to the processor 105. The processor 105 controlsthe first electronic switch 103 to couple one or more antennas of thefirst antenna group 101, and control the second electronic switch 104 tocouple one or more antennas of the second antenna group 102. Differentantenna combinations of the first antenna group 101 and the secondantenna group 102 generate different radiation patterns. For example,both the first antenna group 101 and the second antenna group 102comprises four antennas, then will generate (C₄ ¹+C₄ ²+C₄ ³+C₄ ⁴)*(C₄¹+C₄ ²+C₄ ³+C₄ ⁴)*4=900 antenna combinations, that will generate 900types of radiation pattern.

Generally, environment changes can cause deterioration of the radiationpattern, resulting in a decrease in transmission performance. Thereforethe processor 105 control the first electronic switch 103 and the secondelectronic switch 104 to couple different antenna combination inaccordance with different environment to select the optimal radiationpattern to achieve the best transmission path.

In at least one embodiment, in order to determine the optimal radiationpattern matching the current environment, the processor 105 divides the900 types of radiation pattern into a predetermined number ofcharacteristic patterns. In at least one embodiment, the processor 105divides the 900 types of radiation pattern into 6 types ofcharacteristic patterns. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematicdiagram of 6 types of characteristic pattern.

In at least one embodiment, the processor 105 calculates similarities ofthe characteristic patterns and the RSSI of each characteristic pattern.When the antenna device 10 is in operation, the processor 105 reads andanalyzes RSSI of the signals received by the first antenna group 101 andthe second antenna group 102, and compares the RSSI of the signals ofthe first antenna group and the second antenna group with the RSSI ofthe characteristic patterns, and then determines the matchedcharacteristic pattern group according to results of the comparisons andthe similarities of the characteristic patterns. The processor 105further calculates a number of antenna combinations corresponding toeach matched characteristic pattern. The matched characteristic patternwith the largest number of antenna combinations is the optimal radiationpattern.

In other embodiment, the processor 105 further calculates the RSRQ andRSRP of each characteristic pattern, and further reads and analyzes RSRQand RSRP of the signals received by the first antenna group 101 and thesecond antenna group 102, and compares with the RSRQ, RSRP and RSSI ofthe characteristic patterns, and then determines the matchedcharacteristic pattern group according to results of the comparisons andthe similarities of the characteristic patterns.

In at least one embodiment, when the optimal radiation pattern isdetermined, the processor 105 controls the first electronic switch 103to couple to corresponding antenna of the first antenna group 101according to the optimal radiation pattern, and controls the secondelectronic switch 104 to couple to corresponding antenna of the secondantenna group 102 according to the optimal radiation pattern.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of an antenna device 10 a. In atleast one embodiment, the antenna device 10 a comprises a first antennagroup 101 a, a second antenna group 102 a, a first electronic switch 103a, a second electronic switch 104 a, a processor 105 a and a storageunit 106 a. The first antenna group 101 a comprises multiple antennas,each antenna can receive signal and transmit signal. The second antennagroup 102 a comprises multiple antennas, each antenna can receive signaland transmit signal. In the embodiment, the working principles of thefirst antenna group 101 a, the second antenna group 102 a, the firstelectronic switch 103 a, the second electronic switch 104 a and theprocessor 105 a are the same as those of the above embodiments, and arenot described herein again.

In at least one embodiment, the storage unit 106 a is coupled to theprocessor 105 a. The storage unit 106 a stores a mapping relationshipbetween the signal, the optimal radiation pattern, and the antennacombination. When a new signal is received, the processor 105 a isqueries the mapping relationship between the signal, the optimalradiation pattern, and the antenna combination to determine the optimalradiation pattern.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart showing a method for determiningradiation pattern applied in the antenna device 10 a. The antenna device10 a comprises a first antenna group 101 a, a second antenna group 102a, a first electronic switch 103 a, a second electronic switch 104 a, aprocessor 105 a and a storage unit 106 a. The first antenna group 11 acomprises multiple antennas, each antenna can receive signal andtransmit signal. The second antenna group 102 a comprises multipleantennas, each antenna can receive signal and transmit signal. Theprocessor 105 a is coupled to the first antenna group 101 a by a firstelectronic switch 103 a, and coupled to the second antenna group 102 aby a second electronic switch 104 a. The method for balancing radiationcomprises the following steps:

Step S31, dividing radiation pattern of antenna combination of the firstantenna group 101 a and the second antenna group 102 a into apredetermined number of characteristic patterns.

Different antenna combinations of the first antenna group 101 a and thesecond antenna group 102 a generate different radiation patterns. Forexample, both the first antenna group 101 a and the second antenna group102 a comprises four antennas, then will generate (C₄ ¹+C₄ ²+C₄ ³+C₄⁴)*(C₄ ¹+C₄ ²+C₄ ³+C₄ ⁴)*4=900 antenna combinations, that will generate900 types of radiation pattern.

Generally, environment changes can cause deterioration of the radiationpattern, resulting in a decrease in transmission performance. Thereforethe processor 105 a control the first electronic switch 103 a and thesecond electronic switch 104 a to couple different antenna combinationin accordance with different environment to select the optimal radiationpattern to achieve the best transmission path.

In at least one embodiment, in order to determine the optimal radiationpattern matching the current environment, the processor 105 a dividesthe 900 types of radiation pattern into a predetermined number ofcharacteristic patterns. In at least one embodiment, the processor 105 adivides the 900 types of radiation pattern into 6 types ofcharacteristic patterns. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematicdiagram of 6 types of characteristic pattern.

Step S32, calculating RSSI of each characteristic pattern.

Step S33, calculating similarity of the characteristic patterns.

Step S34, reading and analyzing RSSI of signal received by the firstantenna group 101 a and the second antenna group 102 a when the antennadevice 10 is in operation.

Step S35, comparing the RSSI of the characteristic patterns with theRSSI of signal.

Step S36, determining the matched characteristic pattern group accordingto results of the comparisons and the similarities of the characteristicpatterns.

In other embodiment, the processor 105 a further calculates the RSRQ andRSRP of each characteristic pattern, and further reads and analyzes RSRQand RSRP of the signals received by the first antenna group 101 a andthe second antenna group 102 a, and compares with the RSRQ, RSRP andRSSI of the characteristic patterns, and then determines the matchedcharacteristic pattern group according to results of the comparisons andthe similarities of the characteristic patterns.

In at least one embodiment, the processor 105 a further calculates anumber of antenna combinations corresponding to each matchedcharacteristic pattern. The matched characteristic pattern with thelargest number of antenna combinations is the optimal radiation pattern.When the optimal radiation pattern is determined, the processor 105 acontrols the first electronic switch 103 a to couple to correspondingantenna of the first antenna group 101 a according to the optimalradiation pattern, and controls the second electronic switch 104 a tocouple to corresponding antenna of the second antenna group 102 aaccording to the optimal radiation pattern.

In other embodiment, the method for determining radiation patternfurther comprises following steps:

Storing a mapping relationship between the signal, the optimal radiationpattern, and the antenna combination.

Querying the mapping relationship between the signal, the optimalradiation pattern, and the antenna combination determine the optimalradiation pattern when a new signal is received.

Many details are often found in the art such as the other features ofmobile terminal. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nordescribed. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of thepresent technology have been set forth in the foregoing description,together with details of the structure and function of the presentdisclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be madein the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement ofthe parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to andincluding the full extent established by the broad general meaning ofthe terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that theembodiments described above may be modified within the scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An antenna device comprising: a plurality ofantennas configured to receive and transmit signals; and a processorcoupled to the antennas by an electronic switch, configured to divideradiation patterns of combinations of the antennas into a predeterminednumber of characteristic patterns, and further configured to calculatesimilarities of the characteristic patterns and a RSSI of each of thecharacteristic patterns, wherein when the antenna device is inoperation, the processor reads and analyzes RSSI of the signals receivedby the antennas, and compares the RSSI of the signals of the antennaswith the RSSI of the characteristic patterns, and determines a matchedcharacteristic pattern group according to results of comparisons and thesimilarities of the characteristic patterns.
 2. The antenna device ofclaim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to read and analyzeRSRQ and RSRP of the signals received by the antennas, and compares theRSRQ and the RSRP of the signals of the antennas with the RSRQ, the RSRPand RSSI of the characteristic patterns, and determines a matchedcharacteristic pattern group according to results of comparisons ofRSRQ, RSRP and RSSI and the similarities of the characteristic patterns.3. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to calculate a number of combinations of the antennascorresponding to each characteristic pattern of the matchedcharacteristic pattern group, and a matched characteristic pattern witha largest number of combinations of the antennas is determined to be anoptimal radiation pattern.
 4. The antenna device of claim 3, wherein theprocessor is further configured to control the electronic switch tocouple to corresponding antennas according to the optimal radiationpattern.
 5. The antenna device of claim 4, further comprising a storageunit coupled to the processor, configured to store a mappingrelationship between signal, the optimal radiation pattern, and antennacombination, wherein the processor is further to query the mappingrelationship between the signal, the optimal radiation pattern with alargest number of combinations of the antennas, and the combination ofthe antennas to determine the optimal radiation pattern when a newsignal is received.
 6. A method for determining radiation pattern, whichis applied to an antenna device with a plurality of antennas, anelectronic switch and a processor, the method comprising: dividingradiation patterns of combinations of the antennas into a predeterminednumber of characteristic patterns; calculating RSSI of each of thecharacteristic patterns; calculating similarities of the characteristicpatterns; reading and analyzing RSSI of signals received by the antennaswhen the antenna device is in operation; comparing the RSSI of thecharacteristic patterns with the RSSI of signals of the antennas; anddetermining a matched characteristic pattern group according to resultsof the comparison and the similarities of the characteristic patterns.7. The method of claim 6, before the step of determining the matchedcharacteristic pattern group according to results of the comparisons andthe similarities of the characteristic patterns, further comprising:calculating RSRQ and RSRP of each of the characteristic pattern; readingand analyzing RSRQ and RSRP of signals received by the antennas when theantenna device is in operation; comparing the RSRQ, the RSRP and theRSSI of the characteristic patterns with the RSRQ, the RSRP and the RSSIof the signals of the antennas; and determining the matchedcharacteristic pattern group according to results of the comparisons andthe similarities of the characteristic patterns.
 8. The method of claim7, further comprising calculating a number of the combinations of theantennas corresponding to each characteristic pattern of the matchedcharacteristic pattern group, wherein the matched characteristic patternwith a largest number of combinations of the antennas is determined tobe an optimal radiation pattern.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising controlling the electronic switch to couple to correspondingantennas according to the optimal radiation pattern.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: storing a mapping relationship betweensignal, the optimal radiation pattern, and the combinations of theantennas; and querying the mapping relationship between the signal, theoptimal radiation pattern, and the combinations of the antennas todetermine the optimal radiation pattern with a largest number ofcombinations of the antennas when a new signal is received.